Filmstudy - Filmstudy is a sophisticated and comprehensive statistical analysis of the Ravens defense that incorporates a participation-by-play tracking system. This unique analysis is the brain child of the author and provides our readers with the real story behind the Ravens’ top end defensive results in the National Football League. Make Russellstreetreport.com the source for all of your Ravens football news and the forum to talk about what the Ravens fans want to hear most.

Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Battle Plans - During the season, you can expect to find thoughtful analysis in each of our Game Previews. We bring out the chalk and then talk X’s and O’s. In the offseason, Dev Panchwagh — The Scientist, digs beneath the surface and serves up insightful commentary on issues facing the Ravens and the NFL. School is in session!

By 4PM today the Ravens will trim 10 more players from their roster to get down to the league mandated 53. And while those players still left standing can stop waiting to exhale, those on the bottom of the roster are still at risk.

In other words the cutdown to 53 today isn’t necessarily the final 53.

There will be more change.

The Ravens are thin at cornerback – dangerously thin. Ozzie Newsome has long said that a team can’t have enough good corners yet the Ravens have a total of four on their current roster. Michael Huff could play there in a pinch but that’s not why they acquired him.

Lardarius Webb is returning from an ACL injury. Jimmy Smith’s two seasons in the league have been injury plagued so it’s hard to really count on him. Chykie Brown is a model of inconsistency and has regressed in his technique so far this summer. Asa Jackson can’t help the club until Week 9, leaving veteran Corey Graham as arguably the most reliable corner on the roster.

Clearly this isn’t enough and the Ravens will need more – and soon!

Sometimes teams get attached to players and the Ravens have always shown an extreme affinity for their draft picks. Jah Reid comes to mind. And Chykie Brown isn’t far behind.

The former Texas Longhorn is an inviting target at the moment and if he’s on the field in dime situations on Thursday, Peyton Manning will not be able to avoid the temptation to exploit the third-year corner particularly when matched up against the taller DeMaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.

For my money, recently released CB Moe Lee is a better player with more upside but given his undrafted status he’s more of a stepchild and not a favored son like Brown.

The Ravens offensive line is another area of need.

Only seven linemen are worthy of their anticipated roster spots and two of those are centers. Jah Reid has to be a major disappointment to the scouting department that collectively believed they landed a tackle with a high ceiling. Now they can’t even find a position for him where he’s adequate. If Kelechi Osemele or Marshal Yanda is injured the Ravens offense and their $120 million man will struggle.

These roster weaknesses will more than likely force the Ravens’ hand within the next few days. Typically teams will deal from a position of strength to patch a hole or two. And in an ironic twist of fate, that position of strength just might be wide receiver.

With the emergence of Aaron Mellette and Marlon Brown who seem like virtual locks to make the team along with the addition of chain-mover Brandon Stokley, the Ravens may have a marketable player in the form of Jacoby Jones.

Jones’ real value is not as a receiver but rather as a return specialist. But now that the team seems prepared to hand Bobby Rainey a roster spot Jones could be expendable.

No Rainey isn’t on Jones’ level as a returner but if he can provide respectable numbers until Asa Jackson comes off the suspension list or until Deonte Thompson heals should the team opt not to place him on IR, Jones is an expendable luxury.

Those 2 or 3 returns for scores that Jones has delivered in the past might be worth sacrificing for depth at corner or offensive line.

You can rest assured that Ozzie, Eric DeCosta, Vince Newsome and George Kokinis are sifting through all of the various combinations of possible trading partners as you read this.

And it will be a mild upset if those trade winds DO NOT blow through Owings Mills.

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About Tony Lombardi

Tony is 24x7 Networks, LLC's founder (the parent of EutawStreetReport.com and RussellStreetReport.com) His work has been featured on various sports websites and he is a regular guest on 105.7 The Fan. A diehard Fab Four fan, Tony is a frustrated musician who thinks beating on the steering wheel is akin to being John Bonham. Follow Tony on Twitter @RussellStReport. More from Tony Lombardi

2+ Comments TonyLombardi says Dusty728 Thanks Dusty. That is an article that deserves its own space. Maybe we can get someone to give a behind the scenes account of the great William Donald 15 hours ago

Really have no idea how this team will fare this year. They look stronger on "D", but considerably weaker on "O" with the loss of both Boldin and Pitta. That being said, I've watched accomplished QB's over the years who were able to "plug in" new receivers with great success. Given the fact that, until the past two years, Flacco succeeded despite not have much receiving talent, there's reason to believe that he'll make the most of the available talent. And, as you observed, the "O" line cannot afford any injuries because there is NO DEPTH! My confidence level is not where I'd like it to be, but we'll know more by Friday morning..........

There was no way I saw them trading Jacoby Jones, not with the speed he brings to the table on special teams if they need him there. His routes may be a bit suspect, but he does have good hands, and will at times separate and get open on big plays. My biggest concern for this team again, remains to be, a consistent offense. Something Flacco has not been able to show the last 5 years during the regular season.

Not happy with the corners and O-line depth,,,,,,,,,,,Ozzie can't be happy either,,,,,,,,,,,agree with CJ a bit , almost too late to trade for an offensive player,,,,,,,,,,,,one injury away from the o-line being bad and no injuries away from the corners being suspect,,,,,,,,,,,all you need is one weak corner and the opponent will pick him apart and I think we will see plenty of that from Manning,,,,,,,,,boy do I hope I'm wrong..................

Kind of surprises me that they cut Moe Lee and kept Chyke Brown. Thought Lee played better - but what do I know? Will surprise me even more if they keep Jah Reid. Looks like a CAT road grader, runs like grandma's Buick.

I don't think they will trade him. I just don't think they will get anything worthwhile out of the trade, and they probably just assume sign a free agent. Still, I think if they were going to sign free agent linemen or cornerback they would have done so already... next game is regular season, being as training camp, and preseason are now behind the Ravens, I see no real reason for them to try to force a player to learn the system in a matter of days.

Filmstudy - Filmstudy is a sophisticated and comprehensive statistical analysis of the Ravens defense that incorporates a participation-by-play tracking system. This unique analysis is the brain child of the author and provides our readers with the real story behind the Ravens’ top end defensive results in the National Football League. Make Russellstreetreport.com the source for all of your Ravens football news and the forum to talk about what the Ravens fans want to hear most.

Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Battle Plans - During the season, you can expect to find thoughtful analysis in each of our Game Previews. We bring out the chalk and then talk X’s and O’s. In the offseason, Dev Panchwagh — The Scientist, digs beneath the surface and serves up insightful commentary on issues facing the Ravens and the NFL. School is in session!